"The only redeeming quality about this story is that the good die and the stupid suffer." ~ Anonymous
You thought I’d die
I’d never make it without you
But look now upon me
In all my terrible glory
I’d rend you limb from limb
Consume your every fiber
For what you did to me
You taught me I was weak
Did you do that
So I’d rely on you
Or so I would never find
Just how powerful I am…
Just how weak you are?
The heaven’s weeping
Splattered the world
Into an impressionist mosaic
The road slickened to the white of the sky
More like cloud run-off than concrete
Leaving the edges of my path
Merely a suggestion
“I’m sure though,”
I convince myself
“I can ease out another mile, or two, per hour”
Cerulean skies bend to us
Bend down to us
Enwrapping our bodies
Cobalt crash river blast
Swirls our souls in cyan sound
We don ultramarine masks
Only we see behind
Bice bear runs beside indigo wolf
Viridian plays over our forms
We bask in this azure light
Never to ascend without the other
And now my favorite color is you
Steps fly
Barely skimming stone
A lindyhop nearing flight
Arms awhirl
We flash daggers
Saber rattle
Without a word
But he knows not
Who he chose to showdown
I’m the B’s and E’s
All nights end on me
Ossified and ready for a fight
And now I see him flag
Everything is Jake
He collapses in a panting, grinning mess
I slip him some voot
A bit of the dog on me
I’m zozzled but the night’s as young as me
“Let’s blouse!”
I bark and Johnny’s line up behind
This town’s mine to dance down
Gently he opens the case
“Thin Places” he reads aloud
Removing the disc within
He eyes the scratched surface
Reflective rainbow glistening
With greatest care places within console
Tray whirs closed with a click
He holds his breath
Disc spins to life
A moment of nothing
Then the splash screen
It has loaded
A sigh of relief
The screen transitions
A pulsating mess of reddish hues
Throbbing low bass crawls from speakers
The console growls low thumping softly
Steadily
Rhythmically
TV bulges at its edges
Red glistening flesh peaking through
He picks up a controller grinning eagerly
Something thin and sinuous wraps around his thumbs
“Best game…”
His voice comes
Unbidden from the TV’s crackling speakers
I’ll care for him
As long as I need
Dab cool cloth on forehead
Loving gestures aplenty
A sip of water soothes
His parched throat
Fed on herbs
Specially picked
And fresh hare
Invigorating mixture
IV collects crimson life
Bags of it line my cooler
His back a mess
Of pustulant bedsores
His arms chained
Frail little things
His face is gaunt
But eyes alit
And his heart beats
Still strong and full
Of such wondrous nectar
Yes indeed
I’ll care for him
As long as I need
Sustenance
Cross handle
Sharpened hook
Dragging flesh
He grunts as he arrives
Resting hand against Ash tree
Swings wound rope
Up and over limb
Dragging slowly
But surely
Carcass raises
Flies swarm
Irritated at shifting
Once in position
The man ties down to the trunk
Wind howls between the trees
Something else joins in howling
He eyes the distance about him
Adjusting the hook in his hand
The sun is still up
He had time to get home
Here, half formed something
Unblinking stares up at me
From my mother’s soup
Give up this
Desperate struggle
Niggling little parasite
“I am man!”
You boast
And brag
But look how fragile
How little
You truly are
With but a flick
Of the wrist
I can snap a spine
Or snap my fingers
And strip a soul
Though
In truth
This is not enough
Instead
I’ll give a glimpse
A fleeting sight
Of that which assaults
The obsidian doors of night
Which will one day consume all
With this merest fragment
Your mind will flee
And what life remains then
No I have killed
Quite effectively
You little worm
Why such lengths
For but a man
Well quite simply
I prefer to kill
Creatively
Gentle reminders
Passionate declarations
This blossoming thing
Glorious and splendid
Spills forth
Cup runneth over
Sweet nectar of love
Or
Something less wholesome
But just as sweet
Those words
Also sweet
Draw me out
Day in
Night out
The universe reminds
“She was meant for you
You were meant for her
This must be.”
Dried Ink Ribbon 